Properly Exegeting Romans Chapter 2

Romans 2:1-3, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”

In my humble opinion, the key verse in Romans chapter 2 is Romans 2:17, “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God.” If you miss this truth, you'll misinterpret the entire passage. The Apostle Paul is rebuked the self-righteous religious crowd for resting in the Law of Moses instead of resting in the 'GOOD NEWS' (Gospel) of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen the third day (1st Corinthians 15:1-6).

Romans 2:17-20, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.”

Paul said that he received the Gospel directly from Jesus Himself (Galatians 1:12).

Dan Corner Is Caught Between Works And Grace

One of the most dangerous FALSE TEACHERS today is Evangelist Dan Corner at Evangelistic Outreach Ministries, who vehemently denies the fundamental Bible doctrine of Eternal Security. I sincerely feel very sorry for Dan and his family, because unless they repent of trusting in their own goodness and many wonderful works done in Jesus' name, none of them will be allowed someday to enter into Heaven.

This is why Jesus warned in Luke 13:23-24, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Jesus completed the only “work” on Calvary's cross that can save sinners. Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay (2nd Corinthians 5:21).

Here is a FALSE meme on Dan Corner's website...

Blatant Heresy From Dan Corner's Website

Kindly said, Dan Corner fails to understand or rightly divide the Word of Truth. Although it is true that “by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 6:16b), it is also true that not every born again Christian fears God as they ought. When that happens, our heavenly Father has to scourge and chastise us (Hebrews 12:6-8). Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

But this doesn't in any way jeopardize our eternally secure position in God's family as His child, which is based solely upon one's faith in Christ. Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” You won't find a better Scripture passage that supports the fundamental Bible doctrine of Eternal Security. We shouldn't abide in sin. I like what

When David in the Old Testament committed adultery with Bathsheba and then ruthlessly murdered Uriah her husband to hide his wickedness, David did not fear God as he should have at that time in his life, but David's salvation was still safe and secure in the everlasting arms of the Father in Heaven.

Exodus 20:20, “And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” Dan Corner cites this passage in a lame attempt to deny the truth of Eternal Security. According to Mr. Corner you are not saved if you indulge in a lifestyle of willful wicked partying in sin. The inspired Word of God strongly disagrees with Corner, as I just showed you from Romans 6:1-2. As saints we fall 'IN GRACE,' never 'FROM GRACE' (which fate only someone who trusts in the works of the law can suffer according to Galatians 5:4).

Kindly said, Dan Corner simply does NOT understand God's simple plan of salvation. Dan hates sin so much that he has added turning from sin to live in holiness as a prerequisite to saving faith, which is a works-based counterfeit gospel (Jonah 3:10).

Romans 8:32-35, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED! Or as I like to say: IF SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED! The spiritual new birth is as irreversible as the physical birth. We do not get saved by doing good works, so we cannot be lost again by doing bad works. Hebrews 6:1 teaches to repent from DEAD WORKS (i.e., all works which cannot save, which includes bad works and good works alike). You cannot forsake bad works, nor add good works, to please God. Our best effort is filth to God (Isaiah 64:6). Sin must be paid for by death, which is why Christ died a vicarious (substitutionary) death on Calvary's cross in our place 2,000 years ago.

According to Romans 2:17 the Apostle Paul is addressing self-righteous religious Jews. As such, those Jews were resting (trusting) in keeping the Law of Moses. Paul points out to them in Romans 2:13b that it is “not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” In other words, if you want to merit your own way to Heaven by keeping the Law of Moses, then you cannot break or leave off even one of those approximately 720 laws. Breaking even one law essentially makes someone guilty of violating them all, since only one sin is enough to disqualify a sinner from entering into Heaven (James 2:10).

Paul then leaves off rebuking them for their utter hypocrisy and proceeds to educate them in Romans chapter 3 that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” There is the simple unadulterated truth dear reader. We are all guilty sinners in the Lord's sight for violating His commandments. Romans 3:10-11, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

Romans 2:7 Does Not Teach Works Salvation

Redemption cannot be obtained through becoming a doer of the law. Dan Corner literally cites Romans 2:7 to support his damnable heresy of denying the eternal security of the believer. Romans 2:7, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.” Sadly, some some false prophets (like Dan Corner) have tried to use this Scripture passage to teach that “good works” (“by patient continuance in well doing”) are essential to salvation (i.e., eternal life). However, that is absolutely not what this passage is teaching, God forbid.

The only “work” good enough to save a person is the work Christ performed on Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago. Therefore, whosoever accepts Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for their sins, believing that Jesus was buried but then miraculously resurrected from the dead three days later is saved. What Paul means in Romans 2:7 is simply that someone who is pure of heart to seek the truth will ultimately find it at Jesus' feet. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Acts 10:35-36,  “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”

When asked by some followers of Jesus what “work” God required of them to have eternal life, Jesus plainly said to trust in Him. John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Here we have a bold proclamation from Christ Himself, that the only work a person can do to get to Heaven is to simply BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (cf., Acts 16:30-31; Galatians 3:26; 1st Thessalonians 4:14).

Romans 2:7, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.”  A good example of Romans 2:7 is the life of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10. Cornelius was a centurion commander over 100 soldiers in the Italian army. The Bible tells us that Cornelius was a good man who feared God and loved the people. He gave alms to the poor. He prayed and fasted. He wanted to do what was right to please God, even as a lost man. The Scripture tells us that Cornelius was still a lost hellbound sinner. Yet, it was because of Cornelius' sincere desire to please God, that ultimately led Cornelius to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 10:43-44).